Aerial torpedo.



E. H. HUGHES.

AERIAL TORPEDU.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.191].

Patented June H, 1918.

5 f/MQ/es Queen-Tot snares PATENT curios.

'nnwAnn BATELEY HUGHES, or cAn'ron, onio.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EDWARD HATELEY f Hoonns, a subject of the King of England, --and resident of Canton, in the county of train newand useful Improvements in Aerial Stark and State of Ohio, have invented cer- Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in explosive projectiles; the dominant object of the invention being to provide an aerial torpedo which when discharged from a projector willplane' through the air into engagement with an object and then explode; mo-

tive'means belng provided to drive the same through the air at a high velocity, thus, in-

' suring accurate and steady flight thereof.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited the provision of a torp'edo'ofthe character mentioned with a view to compactness, and in which the numadvantageous details and arrangement of .parts of the preferred embodiment of my inher of parts are few, the construction simple, the cost of production comparatively small, and'efliciency and operation high. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The foregoing together with additional vention will be clear from the specific description hereinafter contained, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof wherein said embodiment of the invention is illustrative for the purpose of facilitating a full understanddesignates the explosive shell, this shell having a detonating charge arranged in the for;- ward portion thereof and adaptedto be lliefl through the medium of a firing pin 2 which is also arranged. in the forward tapered 90% tion of the said shell.

Supporting bars 3 are arranged transversely of the shell 1 in proximity of the forwardand rear portions thereof and have sc cured to their opposite extremities, housings Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed m 6, 1911. Serial No. 178,983.

designated ,4, the forward portions of which are tapered and have extending therefrom power shafts carryin ropellers 5. \Vithin the housings 4 and connected to the power shafts are compressed air motors of the conventional construction, a reservoir being also included in the arrangement within the housings in order that motive power may be supplied the motors. It is of course to be understood, that suitable means are provided and are adapted to manually or automatically control the passage of air to the compressed air motor upon the discharge of the torpedo from a projector.

Oppositely disposed pairs of vertical standards 6 are secured to the outer sides of the rearward and forward portions of the several housings l and carry upon their uppar and lower ends air planes 7, it bein noted in this connection, that the forward vertical standards are of a length greater than the rear standards, thus, causing a greater gap between the forward air planes as is between the rear air planes.

A projector 8 is provided and is supported upon a suitable mounting 9 at a slight elevation'in order that the explosive shell 1 may be inserted therein, oppositely disposed slots or guides being formed in the respective sides of the projector barrel to permit the passage of the bars 3 therethrough.

lVhen discharged from the projector the aerial torpedo will, due to the biplane struc ture thereof be caused to travel accurately and steadily through the air into engage- -ment with the object at which it is discharged. Upon striking the object, the firing pin 2 will be depressed thus exploding the detonating charge in the shell.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An aerial torpedo including an explosire shell, motive means arranged upon the opposite sides of said shell, supporting means secured to the forward and rear portions of the motive means, and air planes curried upon the extremities of said supporting means and arranged in spaced relation to the motive means and shell.

#2, An aerial torpedo including an explosiveshell, supporting bars extending transversely to the forward and rear portions of said shell, mOtiXG means arranged upon the opposite ends of said supporting bars, pairs of vertical standards secured to the forward and rearportions of the motive means, and air planes carried upon the extremities of said standards and arranged in spaced relation to the motive means and. shell.

3. An aerial torpedo, including an explosive shell, supporting bars arranged trans- 10 versely of the forward and rear portions of the said shell, motive means arranged upon the opposite ends 01 the supporting bars, vertical standards secured to the forward and rear portions of the motive means, certain of said standards being of greater length than others, and air planes secured to the ends of said standards.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

EDW'ARD HATELEY HUGHES. 

